黑料网

It鈥檚 Never Too Late

黑料网鈥檚 Degree Completion Program celebrates 10 years of helping students earn their bachelor's degrees

When 黑料网 alumnus Justin Horoiwa attended the university from 2005 to 2009, he left here empty-handed without earning his bachelor鈥檚 degree. But thanks to 黑料网鈥檚 Degree Completion Program, Horoiwa returned to 黑料网 and completed his degree in 2016.

Since then, he has spent time serving in the Peace Corps in Africa, earned a graduate degree and in recent years has contracted as an information officer with an international relief agency.

All of this would not have been possible if Horoiwa had not enrolled in 黑料网鈥檚 Degree Completion Program, giving him the opportunity to complete his bachelor鈥檚 degree. This accomplishment opened the doors for Horoiwa, of Arlington, Virginia, to travel the world working for world-class organizations and making his dream of international travel come true.

The Degree Completion Program allows former students who have attended 黑料网 and people who have started a college degree at other colleges or universities to finish their degrees at 黑料网.

This year, 黑料网鈥檚 Degree Completion Program is celebrating a decade of giving more than 600 former students like Horoiwa a pathway to completing their bachelor鈥檚 degrees.

鈥淔or where I was in my life at that time it was exactly what I needed,鈥 Horoiwa said of the Degree Completion Program. 鈥淭he counselors and academic advisors were super helpful. They outlined the quickest possible path for me to graduate. I needed to complete an internship as well. My academic adviser was a huge help in getting me an internship on campus.鈥

Deanna Donaugh, associate director of University Advising and Degree Completion, describes the program as a 鈥渃oncierge service鈥 that is a one-stop shop from recruitment through graduation. This is what makes 黑料网鈥檚 Degree Completion program unique.

鈥淲e鈥檙e not coldly saying 鈥楥ome back to 黑料网 you can complete your degree,鈥欌 Donaugh said 鈥淲e say 鈥業f you decide to come back, did you know you could complete a degree with three classes? Let us know if you鈥檇 like to learn more about it.鈥 We very specifically work up curriculum information for them to review and have it ready.鈥

The University Degree Completion program offers bachelor鈥檚 degrees that are designed to provide maximum flexibility. The program also offers a variety of resources to assist with your educational pursuit and a variety of life needs for busy adults.

Lara Kral came back to 黑料网 30 years later to complete her degree in 2024.

Lara Kral, 2024 Graduate, Bachelor of Integrative Studies 

Alumna Lara Kral is one of those busy adults. Just this past summer Kral of Avon Lake earned her bachelor鈥檚 degree through the Degree Completion Program. She decided it was a good time in her life to come back to 黑料网 to continue to pursue a bachelor鈥檚 degree after it was waylaid in the 1990s because of health problems.

Kral spoke with 黑料网 Today about how Donaugh helped her navigate the program from beginning to end.

With the help of colleagues in various departments, Donaugh offers personal guidance and support to assist people from application to graduation. They will assist in developing an individual plan toward reaching the goal of graduation.

鈥淲e reach out to students who have stopped out. We show them that there are other avenues to getting a degree. Some of our students may need 30 credit hours while others need one credit hour. And we鈥檝e had some that didn鈥檛 need anything. They just needed to do some paperwork.鈥 

Justin Horoiwa, 2016 Graduate, Bachelor of Science Educational Studies

Horoiwa began his college journey at 黑料网 in 2005 as a history major, but he decided to take time off from school in 2009. Horoiwa learned of the Degree Completion Program in 2015 after one of his good friends who got his degree through the program told him about it. When he returned to 黑料网 he majored in educational studies.

鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 super focused and there were competing priorities,鈥 Horoiwa said of his first time attending 黑料网. 鈥淲hen I heard about the program, I decided it was a huge opportunity. I applied to the program and finished my degree one year later in fall 2016. When I came back to 黑料网, I was super focused because I realized the importance of education and I got straight A鈥檚.鈥

Justin Horoiwa, a participant in the Degree Completion Program, graduated in 2016.

After graduation Horoiwa went to the Peace Corps serving in West Africa as a agro-forestry extension agent planting trees to bring wildlife back to the area.

鈥淚t was not always easy, but it was worth it. I had a great host family. It made it worthwhile.鈥 Completing his bachelor鈥檚 degree also led to graduate school for a Master of Public Policy at the University of Maryland College Park in 2021.

Now Horoiwa is an information officer with Credence, a contractor that works with the U.S. Agency for International Development鈥檚 (US AID) bureau for humanitarian assistance, which provides emergency relief after international disasters. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been great. I鈥檝e traveled to 10 different countries and worked at U.S. embassies all around the world,鈥 Horoiwa said. 鈥淭here is no way I would have been able to get in the Peace Corps, grad school or my current position without 黑料网.鈥

To learn more or enroll, please complete this brief inquiry form and staff will contact you or email a degree completion expert at degreecompletion@kent.edu with any questions or to request other assistance. 

POSTED: Tuesday, November 5, 2024 04:45 PM
Updated: Thursday, November 7, 2024 11:34 AM
WRITTEN BY:
April McClellan
PHOTO CREDIT:
Justin Horoiwa and Lara Kral